brooks



No. 608,83l. Patented Aug. 9, 1898. B. A. BRODKS.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(Application flied Oct. 1. 1894.1

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet n.

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TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 1, 1894.) (No Model.) 2 $heets'-Sheet 2.

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BYRON A. BROOKS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION TYPE /VRITER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,831, dated August 9, 1898.

Application filed October 1, 1894.

Be it known that I, BYRON A. BROOKS, a Gin zen of the United States, and a resident of New York, (Brooklyn,) in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-VVriting Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

My present improvements relate to the paper-carriage mechanism whereby the platen may be properly held and guided in its movements of travel and may be conveniently rotated to expose the print, to means for moving the ribbon transversely as well as longitudinally, to means for locking the key-levers at the end of a line, to means for releasing the key-levers for the addition of one or more letters after the line has been locked, and to means for effecting double spacing of the papcncarriage at the end of a word.

My improvements consist in various features of construction and combinations of devices, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a central Vertical section of a type-writing machine embodying my several improve ments, various parts unnecessary for the purpose of illustrating my improvements being omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a right-hand elevation of the upper part of the machine, some of the parts, however, being shown in section and the platen and its carrier being turned up to expose the print. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken at the line a; 00 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereat. Fig. 4 is a detail view to illustrate the means for effecting double spacing, and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the ribbon-moving mechanism.

In the various views the same part will be found designated by the same numeral of reference.

1 designates the framework of the machine, from the top plate 2, of which,at its front, extends upwardly at each end a post 3, the said post supporting a guide rod 4, extending across the machine. Similar posts 5 rise from the top plate at its rear and support a parallel guide-rod 6. Upon these guided-ode travel Serial No. 524,584. (No model) the front and back rollers 7 and 8, respectively, of a carriage 9,which is preferably provided with loops or eyes 10, surrounding the guide-rods at and 6, to prevent any accidental 5 5 detachment of said carriage, which is composed, preferably, of side bars 11 and end bars 12 to form an open frame.

Upon and within the carriage 9 is mounted a frame 13, which in the machine illustrated is adapted to be reciprocated transversely of the carriage, the type-barstnot shown) being designed to carry each two types; but in ma-' chines wherein the type-bars are provided each with only one type or in which the typepreferably made in the form of an open frame composed of parallel side bars 14: and parallel end bars 15, from one of which latter projects downwardly a fork 16, that embraces a shift-bar 17, worked, as common heretofore,

from a shift-key at the keyboard of the ma- 7 5 chine.

Upon the frame 13 is mounted a third open frame or platen-carrier 18, composed of parallel side bars 19 and parallel end bars 20.

The end bars of the shifting frame 13 are provided each with an car 21, and the end bars of. the platen-carrier have each an car 22, all of said ears being perforated coincidently to receive a platen axis, shaft, or pivot 23,which mayor may not pass entirely through the cy- 8 5 lindrical platen 24. The axis 23 at each end serves to pivotally connect the platen-carrier frame with the shifting frame and in a manner such that the platen-carrier may be re tated about said axis, while at the same time 0 the platen is also capable of being independently rotated about said axis, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The platen-carrier is provided at its front side with a pivoted hook 25, adapted to en- 5 gage a pin 26, projecting inwardly from the lefthand side bar 15, and thus hold the plat en-carrier normally in a horizontal position, the rear end of the pivoted platen-carrier abutting against an overhanging stop 27, too

screwed upon the back bar of the vibrating frame. The pivoted hook 25is provided with a handpiece 28, extending upwardly and forwardly, whereby the hook maybe readily dis engaged from its pin and the platen-carrier rotated about the pivot or axis 23 to the vertical position illustrated at Fig. 2 for inspection and correction of the line being printed. The handle end of the hook being the heavier and the hook being beveled at its end when the carriage is turned down to normal or working position the hook is adapted to antomatically engage the pin and lock the platcn-carrier in its true horizontal position and in proper condition for work.

Pivoted at 29 on the vibrating frame is a line-space lever 30, the upper inner end of which is provided witha spring-pressed drivin g-pawl 31, adapted to engage with the teeth of a ratchet-wheel 32, connected to and arranged axially of the platen, the said ratchetwheel being provided with a spring-tooth or holding device 33, projecting downwardly and backwardly from a lug 34 on the platencarrier, for the purpose of preventing any accidental rotation of the platen when either in its normal position or in its turned-up position, the driving-pawl being arranged to stand normally out of engagement with the ratchetwheel. In ears or brackets rising from the rear side of the platen carrier is rotatively mounted a paper-feed or pressure roller 35, from which extends at each end a paper-guide 36. The top of the vibrating frame ,at its rear side, supports by suit-able posts a paper-table 37.

By the above construction and arrangement of the carriage, the shifting frame, and the platen-carrier the writing may be readily inspected when the platen-carrier is turned up to a vertical position without lifting the shifting frame off the shifter-bar 17 and without raising the longitudinally-traveling carriage or in any wise disturbing its relationship to the guide-rods, thus preserving the rigidity of the carriage at all times. The carriage may hence be positively guided, both in front and in rear, which is not possible when it must be lifted, and the liability to distortion from dropping it is thereby prevented. At the same time the construction is such that the platen-carrier may be readily turned up to enable the writing to be inspected or corrected.

When it may be desired to view the line of printing, the handle 28 is lifted, thereby unlocking the hook from the pin and at the same time enabling the platen-carrier to be turned about its axis to bring the line of printing into the view of the operator. During this movement the line-space lever remains at rest and the platen is prevented from being independently rotated by the presence of the springtooth 33. The feed-roller and the paper-guides being attached to the platencarrier are caused to move therewith during the rotation of the latter to inspect the work, and since the feed-roller is unable to rotate independently at this time the paper is held thereby and by the paper-guides in a fixed position on the surface of the platen, so that when the platen-carrier is returned to its normal position the line of printing resumes its former place in the plane of the impressionpoint. When the platen carrier is thus turned down, the hoop or catch slips under the pin and holds the platen in firm workingposition. By the construction and arrangement set forth the writing may not only be conveniently inspected and the distortion of the carriage prevented, but the alinement and excellence of the writing is also much improved. While I have shown my improved construction in connection with a vibrating platen, it is obvious that it may be applied to machines in which the platen does not vibrate, and hence I do not wish to be limited in all of my claims to a vibrating platen.

I shall now describe my improvements rclating to the ribbon-moving mechanism: To the carriage is attached one end of a chain, cord, or band 38, the opposite end of which isattachcd to a drum or case 39, containing a driving-spring 40, to the face or shaft or axis 41 of which is connected a ring or annulus 42, provided with a series of cams 43, against which works the inner free end of a sliding pin or shaft 44, supported in suitable bearings in the framework and made square at its outer end, as at 45, to prevent rotation thereof. At the said outer end of the pin or shaft is pivotally connected the upper end of an arm 46, the lower end of which is secured to a rock-shaft 47, mounted in suitable bearings in the framework and extending across the machine. rock-shaft is attached another rocker-arm 48, which at its upper end is pivotally connected to another parallel sliding and non rotating shaft or pin 49.

The left-hand shaft or pin 44 is made spherical at its inner end, and upon its round body portion carries a ribbon-spool 50, an elongated ratchet-wheel 51, which may be fast on the inner face of said spool, and a spiral spring 52, whose inner end presses against the outer face of the spool, while its outer end bears against a lug or abutment 53, depending from the top plate and in which the square portion of the shaft has a sliding bearing.

One end of the inking-ribbon 54 is attached to said spool and the other end to a parallel spool 55, arranged on the shaft 49, which also bears a similar elongated ratchet-Wheel 5G.

The ribbon-spools and the ratchet-wheels are adapted to turn upon their shafts and also to move back and forth with said shafts, the said spools and ratchet-wheels having ICO To the opposite end of said sufficient friction on their shafts to permit of the ribbon is caused to move transversely toward the front of the machine. During this movement of the parts the spring 52 is compressed to an extent such that when the highest point of the cam passes by the spherical end of the shaft 44 to move the same as far forward as possible the said spring operates to return the said shaft and its connections to their first positions, and hence to move the ribbon widthwise in a direction toward the rear of the machine. The spring is used to drive the shaft back as the cam recodes through the ribbon-spool and ratchetwheol, which latter abuts against a collar 57 on said shaft. Each cam is of such a length or size as to move the ribbon transversely for substantially its whole width, and since there are a plurality of such cams provided the ribbon will be reciprocated in this manner a number of times during the rotation of the annulus and the travel of the paper-carriage.

The ribbon passes over a ribbon-guide 58 on the top plate and is moved longitudinally from one spool onto the other by drivingpawls 59 and 60, the former being a pullingpawl and engaging with the ratchet-wheel 51 and the latter being a pushing-pawl and engaging with the ratchetevheel 56. The said driving-pawls are pivoted at the ends of a lever 61, fulcrumed at 62 in an arm or bracket 63, projecting down from the top plate, and each said pawl is provided with a hub 64:, having two flattened faces or sides 65 for the free end of a spring 66 to bear against and hold said pawl either in or out of operativerelation to its ratchet-wheel, as may be required. The pawl 59 is shown as in working engagement with its ratchetqvheel, while the pawl 60 is shown as held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 56, the ribbon at this time feeding from the spool 55 onto the spool 50. Each ribbonspool pawl is provided with an arm or finger piece (57, extending laterally from the hub of the pawl, whereby the latter may be conveniently thrown into and out of working posi' tion. It will of course be understood that when the spool 50 is full the pawl 59 is thrown out of engagement and the pawl 60 into engagoment in order that the ribbon may be fedv back onto the spool 55.

The lengthwise-feed movements of the ribbon are preferably effected through the depressions of the space-key 68, which by a lever 69, fulerumed at 70, and a vertical rod 71 is connected to the rocking lever 61. Each time the said space-key is depressed the lever 01 is vibrated and one or the other of the ribbon-spools is turned one step or tooth of its associated ratchet-wheel by one or the other of the driving-pawls, depending, of course, upon which one is in working position.

By the construction and arrangement shown whenever the space key is actuated a fresh surfaceof the ribbon lengthwise is presented to the type, and as the forward and backward movements of the ribbon in the same line are continued only while writin g a word it is obvious that no two impressions can be made on the same portion of the ribbon until its whole length has been traversed, and as the forward lengthwise movement takes place only once after each word instead of after each letter, as is usual, the length of the ribbon will not be traversed for a much longer period than generally heretofore. In practice it is about ten times as long. It will thus be seen that by my improvements is provided a simple ribbon-movement by which the ribbon is fed both transversely and longitudinally and in which a fresh surface for the type is automatically presented under all conditions of operation of the machine. It is well known that where the transverse motion of the ribbon is dependent upon an entire revolution of the carriagespring drum or where its longitudinal move ment depends upon the return of the carriage the ribbon-movement is not sufficient to always present a fresh surface to the type, and

hence the printing is imperfect. By my construction both the transverse and longitudinal movements of the ribbon are obtained with less movement of the carriage.

I shall now describe the spacing mechanism, 850. Attached to the carriage is a feed-rack 72, with which engage alternately a pivoted spring-actuated feeding-dog 73 and a rigid holding-dog 74 of about the usual construction, both said dogs being connected to a horizontal axis or pivots 75, about which they are adapted to vibrate crosswise of the rack. Connected to the dogs and extending inwardly from said axis is an arm 7 G, to which is connected a transverse space-bar 77, from the ends of which by means of vertical hangers 78 is hung the universal bar 79. Resting upon or overlying the universal bar are the character or printing key levers 80,which, as usual, are connected by rods to the typebars, (not shown,) said key-levers being, as usual, fulcrumed upon the fulcrum-bar 70.

Centrally of the character-key levers is a supplemental-space-key lever 81, which is fulcrumed at 82 about midway-of its length and provided with a key or head 83, which overhangs the space-key G8 and which like- Wise extends transversely for substantially the whole width of the keyboard. The rear end of the key-lever 81 passes over the top of the universal bar and has pivotally connected to it a rod or link 84:, which at its uppermost end is pivotally connected to-a lever 85, pivoted at 86 in a general bracket or hanger 87, in which the spacing-dogs and the springdrum are likewise supported. The rod 84 is provided with a downwardly-acting coiled returning-spring 88.

Pivoted at 89 on the general bracket is an arm 90, the upper end of which forms a stop 91 to limit the lateral vibration of the feeding-dog 73 under the influence of its spring 92, when said dog is rocked out of the rack and flies back toward the right (considered from the front of the machine) to engage a fresh notch in the feed-rack. The lower end ICC) IIO

of said arm 90 is formed with a projection 93 and a projection 94, the two projections being in the nature of steps, and said arm 89 is provided with a coiled spring 95, which tends to maintain either of the pair of steps or projections in contact with the free end of the lever 85, which lever stands in a horizontal position when in its normal condition.

When the step or projection 94 is in contact with the end of the lever 95, the stop 91 j is held in a position to limit the lateral vibra- I tion of the feeding-dog to a distance of one notch, as shown at Fig. 3; but when the lever 85is vibrated by the upward thrust of the. rod 84 through the depression of the key 83 I the spring 95 acts to vibrate the arm 90 and bring the projection or step 93 into contact; with the free end of the lever 85 and at the same time throw the stop 91 one notch far the'r toward the right, so that when the feeding-dog next escapes from the rack it will vibrate laterally backward the distance of two of each word and simultaneously with the; depression of the last letter of the word in j order to avoid an extra operation, and hence effect a gain in the speed.

When the supplemental space-key 83 is depressed simultaneously with a character-key,

the feeding-dog is removed from the rack, and

the stop 91 is moved to a position to allow the j Hence when the 1 dog to vibrate two notches. two keys are released the carriage will feed two spaces.

By reason of the supplemental space-key overhanging the usual space-key 68 when the former is depressed the latter is caused to,

move at once with it, thus likewise effecting double spacing of the carriage whether a 5 character-key be struck or not; but the two j space-keys and their levers are so related} and arranged that if an operator should de- 3 sire to effect only single spacing this may be readily accomplished by simply striking the '1 space-key 68, which has an independent con- Q nection with the spacing-dogs. The spacingkey lever 69 has a separate returning-spring Preferably there is a lever 69 at each side of the machine, as common heretofore. i

employed and arranged to extend across the keyboard between the rows of letter-keys or in other suitable positions where they may' be conveniently struck simultaneously with a letter or character key.

I shall now describe the line locking and releasing mechanisms.

97 is a finger-key at the outer end of a key-lever 98, fulcrumed at and arranged above the universal bar in the plane of the character-key levers. To this key-lever 98 is loosely attached a vertical link 99, whose upper end is pivoted to the free horizontal end of a bent lever 100, which is pivoted at 101 on the space-bar 77 and which at its upper vertical end is provided with a downwardly-disposed hook 102,adapted to cooperate with a pin 103 on the spring case or drum 39.

The key-lever 98 is slotted, as at 104, and the lower end of the link 99 is forked or slotted, as at 105, whereby said link may move up and down without affecting said lever; but the link may be drawn down by the key lever when desired, owing to the presence of the cross-pin 106, which unites the forks of the link and serves as the connecting medium between the latter and the key-lever. Thehooked bent lever is provided with a returning-spring 107.

The pin 103 is arranged upon the springcase in such a position that when the carriage is near the end of a line it comes into the line of movement of the point of the hook, which has a reciprocating action every time a character-key lever is actuated, owing to its placement upon the spacing-bar 77. When the pin arrives in this position relatively to the point of the hook, as illustrated at Fig. 3, the downward movement of the hook is arrested thereby, arresting at the same time the spacing-bar, the universal bar, and the key-levers and preventing printing at this point; but it is often desirable to release the stop and print one or more letters to finish or divide a word. It is also desirable that means for effecting such release of the stop shall be at or near the keyboard, so that the release may be readily and conveniently accomplished For this purpose the key-lever 98 is provided. When this key -lever is depressed, the link 99 is carried down and the bent lever 100 vibrated, so as to throw the point of the hook or stop out of the path of the pin, and hence the carriage is permitted to move farther or several additional spaces. By these means a simple and effective line locking and releasing contrivance is provided, whereby writing of characters over or upon one another at the end of a line is prevented, and at the same time opportunity is afforded to conveniently finish or divide any word.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a carriage-frame having a pivoted platen-carrier, a platen arranged to rotate therein and having its axis coincident with the axis of motion of the platen-carrier, a feedroller and paperguide mounted upon the platen-carrier, a platen ratchet-wheel, a holdfast dog or tooth bearing against the same,

and a line-spacing lever pivoted in said carriage-frame and provided with a driving-pawl which stands normally out of engagement with said ratchet-wheel, but which, when ICC IIC

said line-space lever is actuated, is capable of turning the same and the platen to which it is connected.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a non-lifting carriage adapted to travel upon guides or ways, a non-lifting frame connected to said carriage, a platen carrier mounted in said frame, relatively-fixed pivots and a revoluble platen mounted in said platencarrier.

8. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a non-lifting carriage adapted to travel upon guides or ways, a vibrating frame mounted upon said carriage, a shifter-bar for vibrating said frame, a platen-carrier pivotally mounted in said frame, and a platen rotatively mounted in said platen-carrier.

4. In a type-writing machine, the combination of an inking-ribbon, a pair of ribbonspools, a series of rotatory cams, a pair of slidable ribbon-spool shafts connected together and adapted to be moved in one direction by each of said cams, and a spring for moving the same in the opposite direction.

5. In a type-writing machine, the combination of an inking-ribbon, a pair of ribbonspools, a pair of slidable ribbon-spool shafts connected together by a pair of rocker-arms and a rock-shaft, a series of rotatory cams for moving the spool-shafts, spools and ribbon in one direction, and a spring for moving the same in the opposite direction.

6. In a type-writing machine, the combination of an inking-ribbon, a pair of ribbonspools, a pair of slidable spool-shafts connected together, a pair of elongated ratchetwhcels, a'pair of driving-pawls, a series of retatory cams adapted to move the shafts, ratchet-wheels, spools, and inking-ribbon in one direction, and a spring for moving the same in the opposite direction.

7. In atype-writing machine, the combination of an inking-ribbon, a pair of ribbonspools, a pair of elongated ribbon-spool ratchet-wheels, a pair of ribbon-spool slidable shafts connected together by rockerarms and a rock-shaft, a series of rotatory cams, a spring arranged on one of said shafts and acting against said cams, and a pair of driving-pawls.

8. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a carriage, a spring driving-drum therefor, a series of rotatory cams connected to said driving-drum,a carriage-spacin g mechanism, an inking-ribbon, a pair of reciprocatory spool-shafts adapted to be acted upon by said cams and by a spring, whereby the ribbon is moved transversely, and a ratchet mechanism connected to said spools and to a space-key of the spacing mechanism, whereby the ribbon is moved lengthwise at each spacing operation.

0. In a type-writing machine, the combina tion with a carriage, a spring driving-drum therefor, a series of rotatory cams connected to the latter, a carriage-spacing mechanism,

a pair of connected slidable spool-shafts, an inking-ribbon, a pair of ribbon-spools, a pair of ratchet-wheels, a spring to act against the series of eams,a pair of driving-pawls mounted upon a rocking lever, and a connection between said lever and the space-key of the spacing mechanism.

10. In a type-writingmachine,the combination of a power-driven carriage, a feed-rack, a holding-dog, a feeding-dog having a lateral vibratory movement, a pivoted stop having steps or projections, a lever adapted to contact with said steps or projections and hold said step in either of two positions to limit the lateral movement of the feeding-dog to a distance of either one or two notches on the rack, and a key connected to said lever arranged at the keyboard of the machine in a position to be actuated simultaneously with one of the character or printing keys of the machine.

11. In a type-writing machine,the combination with a carriage-driving drum having a pin or projection, aseries of key-levers for ac tuatin g the type-bars, a universal bar adapted to be depressed by said key-levers, a spacingbar connected to said universal bar, escapement-dogs and feed-raclna stop mounted upon said spacing-bar and adapted to contact with said pin or projection and prevent the depression of the universal bar, and the key-levers, when said pin or projection and said step come into vertical alinement.

12. In a type-writing machine, the combina tion of a circularly-movable pin or projection, and a vertical reciprocatory stop attached to the spacing-bar of the carriagefeeding mechanism, and adapted to contact with said pin or stop and lock the feeding and printing mechanisms.

13. In a type-writing machine,the combination of a carriage-driving drum having a pin or projection, a reciprocatory'stop carried by the spacing mechanism, whereby the spacing and printing mechanisms may be, looked, a key-lever, and a connection from said heylever to said step for moving the same away from said pin or projection, whereby the feed ing and printing mechanisms may be unlocked and one or more additional characters printed.

14:. In a type-writing machine, the combi11ation of a carriage-driving drum having a pin or projection, a bent lever having a hook and attached to the spacing-bar, a key-lever havin g its finger'piece arranged at the keyboard, and a connecting means between said keyleverand said bent lever.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 28th day of September, A. D. 1894.

BYRON A. BROOKS,

Witnesses:

JACOB FELBEL, I. MACDONALD. 

